Urban Cliff Diving Returns To Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – Urban cliff diving is back in Boston. But rather than actual cliffs, divers launch themselves off buildings from some 90 feet above the water line. It’s the Red Bull World Series of Cliff Diving, making its only U.S. stop in Boston this weekend.

Friday was all about practice rounds with divers stepping off a specially constructed platform jutting out from the roof of the Institute of Contemporary Art on Boston’s waterfront. “Any competition you can walk away from is a good one,” says American diver Steve LoBue. He’s been tackling this towering height for three years, and is in seventh place in the competition. “This sport is starting to grow in the United States which is good. It’s always been bigger in Europe, so it’s good to see crowds come out for something we are so passionate about,” he says.

Nearly three times higher than Olympic diving heights, divers are splashing down after flying 90 feet at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. This is the third year the competition has hit Boston. Four time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis is one of the judges. “What we judge is the take off, the flight and the entry into the water. Those are the three elements we’re looking at, and who puts it together in an aesthetic way and whoever is successful,” he says. Gary Hunt, a Brit, is in first place. “Sometimes you do hurt yourself because it is a big impact, but you try and forget about those times and just remember how it felt to do the dive perfectly and focus on that,” he says.

Sunday’s competition is sold out with about 10,000 tickets snapped up. However there are 7 Boston bars that will be showing the contest on TV. Here they are: